Vehicle rollover detection using dual-axis acceleration sensing
First Claim
1. A vehicle rollover sensing apparatus for generating a safing signal, said rollover sensing apparatus comprising:
- an accelerometer located on a vehicle and comprising a first acceleration sensor oriented in a first axis at an angle offset from the longitudinal axis and lateral axis of the vehicle, said accelerometer sensing a longitudinal component of acceleration of the vehicle and a lateral component of acceleration of the vehicle; and
control logic for receiving the sensed acceleration signal and generating a safing signal as a function of at least one of the longitudinal and lateral components of acceleration.
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Abstract
A rollover sensing apparatus and method are provided for generating a safing (arming) signal for use in vehicle rollover detection. The rollover sensing apparatus includes a first acceleration sensor located on a vehicle and oriented an angle offset from the longitudinal axis and lateral axis of the vehicle, and sensing longitudinal and lateral components of acceleration of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a second acceleration sensor located on the vehicle and oriented at an angle offset from the longitudinal axis and lateral axis of the vehicle, and sensing longitudinal and lateral components of acceleration of the vehicle. The apparatus further includes control logic for determining a safing signal as a function of at least one of the acceleration signals. The safing signal may be used to detect a vehicle rollover and deploy restraint devices.
29 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A vehicle rollover sensing apparatus for generating a safing signal, said rollover sensing apparatus comprising:
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an accelerometer located on a vehicle and comprising a first acceleration sensor oriented in a first axis at an angle offset from the longitudinal axis and lateral axis of the vehicle, said accelerometer sensing a longitudinal component of acceleration of the vehicle and a lateral component of acceleration of the vehicle; and
control logic for receiving the sensed acceleration signal and generating a safing signal as a function of at least one of the longitudinal and lateral components of acceleration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A rollover sensing apparatus for detecting an anticipated overturn condition for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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at least one sensor located on a vehicle for detecting a vehicle roll characteristic;
rollover discrimination logic for generating a rollover discrimination signal;
an accelerometer located on a vehicle and comprising a first acceleration sensor oriented in a first axis at an angle offset from the longitudinal and lateral axes of the vehicle, said accelerometer sensing a longitudinal component of acceleration of the vehicle and a lateral component of acceleration of the vehicle;
safing logic for processing the sensed acceleration signal and generating a safing signal as a function of at least one of the longitudinal and lateral acceleration components; and
control logic for processing the discrimination signal and safing signal and generating a vehicle rollover output signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of generating a safing signal for use in detecting a vehicle rollover, said method comprising the steps of:
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sensing longitudinal and lateral components of acceleration of a vehicle via a first acceleration sensor located on the vehicle and oriented in a first axis at an angle offset from the longitudinal axis and lateral axis of the vehicle; and
generating a safing signal as a function of at least one of the sensed longitudinal and lateral components of acceleration. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification